Miriam Machado, Methamphetamine and Heroin Distribution, Salt Lake …

SALT LAKE CITY – A federal grand jury has dropped the hammer on a Los Angeles couple, Miriam Machado, 36, and Benito Urbina, 33, charging them with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. The bust comes after a traffic stop turned into a major drug seizure involving over 16 pounds of meth and nearly 2.5 pounds of heroin.

The pair was nabbed by the Utah Highway Patrol on February 9, 2014, during which a K-9 officer’s nose led to the discovery of a hidden compartment brimming with illegal narcotics. The substances tested positive for both methamphetamine and heroin, with Machado and Urbina later confessing to their role in transporting the contraband from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City.

Compounding the severity of the charges, Machado’s 5-year-old daughter was present during the traffic stop and has since been placed under Child Protective Services’ care. The penalties for such a significant drug offense are steep: life in prison is a possibility if they’re found guilty.

Machado and Urbina, currently in federal custody, are set to face an initial appearance on Thursday morning at 10:30 a.m. in U.S. Magistrate Judge Dustin Pead’s courtroom. It’s worth noting that the charges against them are not proof of guilt; they remain presumed innocent until proven otherwise.

The investigation leading to this indictment was a collaborative effort, involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations special agents, the Utah Highway Patrol, and the Unified Police Department. This case is another blow against organized crime’s grip on drug trafficking in the state of Utah.

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